Automobile sleigh.



L. TOPANI.

AUTOMOBILE SLEIGH.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 5. 1915.

Patented Oct. 31, 1916 4 SHEETS-SHEET 1- L. TOPANJ. A'UTOMOBiLE SLEIGH. APPUCATION FILED MAY 5. 1916.

Patented Oct. 31,1916.

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APPLICATION FILED MAY 5, 1916.

1,203,077. Patented 00%. 31, 2916 4 SHEETS-SHEET 3 m: .vvNR/ PEIERS CowPnoroLnno,wAsnwcroN. n c

LTOPANL AUTOMOBILE SLEIGH.

APPLICATION FILED MAYfi, 1916.

1 203,077. Patented Oct. 31, 1916,

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

LAURIE TOEANI, OF HANCOCK, IVIIGHIGAN.

AUTOMGBILE SLEIGH.

V Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented @ct. 31, laid.

Application filed May 5, 1916. Serial No. 95,689.

To all whom may concern:

Be it known that I, LAURI ToPArrI, a citizen of the United States, residing at Hancock, in the county of Houghton, in the State of hlichigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Automo- I bile Sleighs, specification.

This invention relates to automobile of which the following is a sleighs of a type wherein slotted runners are propelling mechanism to snow or ice covcred roadways.

lVith the foregoing and other objects in view the invention consists in the combination and arrangement of parts as will be hereinafter more definitely pointed out and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, wherein Figure 1 is a side elevation of my automobile sleigh with the drive wheels in raised position for operation over ice covered roads. Fig. 2 is a similar view with the drive wheels lowered for operation over roads having a covering of soft or new fallen snow. Fig. 3 is an inverted plan view of the sleigh. Fig. 4: is a rear view. Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary view of Fig. t but with the drive wheels in an altered position and it is taken on line 5-5 of Fig. l. Fig. 6 is an enlarged detail view of the means employed for raising and lowering the drive wheels. Fig. 7 is an en: larged detail view of the sliding bearing employed. Fig. 8 is a section taken on line- 8--S of Fig. 7. Fig. 9 is a longitudinal sectional view through one of the runners. Fig. 10 is a cross section on line 10 -10 of Fig. 9.

Like reference characters denote corresponding parts throughout the several views.

The reference numeral 1 denotes the frame of the sleigh having the ordinary front or steering runners 2 controlled by the steering post 3. To the under side of the rear end of the frame 1 the yokes t are secured that are formed, at their lower ends, with the oblique slots 5 to receive the rear axle 6 that is adjustable with relation to said yokes and that isjournaled insplit bearings 3 *ising the bearingsections 7 7 having to receive the locking bolts 9; The plit bearings have peripheral grooves 7* to support the yokes 4 upon the shaft (3 as clearly shown in Fig. 8 of the drawings. Spur drive wheels 10 are fastened by keysll to the said shaft 6 within the yokes a. The rear runners 12 are formed with longitudinal slots 13 and with the metallic bands 14 that are bent upward at approximately the longitudinal center of the said runners and are connected by pivots 15 to the said yokes 4-; the longitudinally slotted portions of said runners 12 receiving the spur drive wheels 10.

To the inner faces of the yokes a cam shaped racks 16 are secured by pivots 17, each rack having teeth '18 for engagement with a pawl 19 connected by pivot 20 to the yoke 4 and connected at one end by spring 21 to a screw ye 22 which is secured to the face of the yoke a. The said pawl is formed with an offset 23 formed with an elongated slot 25% through which a pin 25 passes that is carried at one end of the lever 26 pivoted at 91.7 to said yoke and connected by pitinan 28 to a lever 29 fulcrumed upon a pin 30 carried by casting 81 secured to the under surface ofthe frame 1, said lever working over a segment 32 carried by the said frame 1. Referring again to the rack 16 the same is connected by arm 16 to rear axle 6 and by pitman 33 to a lever S t, also fulcrumed upon the pin 30, that works over segment 35 also carried by the frame 1. i

The operation of the mechanism is as follows: Taking the mechanism in' the position illustrated in Fig. 1, the spur drive wheels being raised, the operator may lower them by moving the lever 29 into the position illustrated in Fig. 2, or toward the rear of the frame 1, thus causing the pitman 28 to move the bell crank lever in a direction to tilt the pawl 19, against the tension of spring 21, out of engagement with the rack 16. The lever 34 is then released from the segment 35 when it may be moved in a backward direction also thus causing the pitman 33 to move the rack 16 forward or in a direction to lowerthe arm 16 together with the rear axle 6 and the spur drive wheels 10 and when adjusted to the position desired they may be again locked in such position by reversing the lever 29 and so throwing the pawl 19 and rack 16 again into engagement. Rotation of the axle 6 is efiected through the medium of a sprocket Wheel 36 fast thereon and connected by chain 27 with the wheel 38 of the drive shaft-39 driven di rectly by a suitable motor (not shown).

What is claimed is 1. Inan automobile sleigh, a frame,,lon

gitudinally slotted runners, yokes carried by said frame and formed wlthaoblique slotted ncrtlons alvo'tal connection between said i runners and said yokes, a transverse power driven rear axle, drive wheels keyed to said axle, split'bearings, for said axle, formed with peripheral grooves to receive the said yokes, racks pivotaliy secured to the relatively. inner faces of said yokes, connection between said racks and said rear axle, locking paWls carried by said yokes for engagement with said racks, manually operable release means for said paWls and manually operable means for moving said racks upon tneirplvots when said racks are disengaged from said paWls.

, 2. In an automobile sleigh, a frame, longitudinally slotted runners, yokes carried by Copies of this patent may be obtained for said frame and for ned Withobliquely slotted portions, p votal connection between said runners and saidyokes, a power driven rear axle, spurjdrive Wheels keyed to said axle, split bearings for said aXle formed \vithperipheral grooves for adjustable supporting engagement with said yokes, camshaped racks pivctally secured to the relatively inner faces of said yokes, connection between said racks and the: said axle, lockpawls carried by said yokes for engage- LAURI TOPANI.

' Witnesses JOHN KIIsHILA,

Hm; nY NORMAN.

fivecents each by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

